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US 4,398,393 AGranted
Steam turbine control apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorPeter G. Ipsen
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorPeter G. Ipsen
Estimating the term…
Control apparatus is disclosed for limiting overspeed in a steam turbine following a sudden loss in load. The apparatus includes at least one valve disposed in the steam conduit interconnecting higher and lower pressure sections of the turbine and an actuator for controlling operation of the valve between a fully open position and a pressure-relief position wherein the valve functions as a pressure relief valve. During normal operation, the valve is maintained in the fully open position. On receipt of a turbine overspeed signal, the valve is actuated to the pressure relief position and a volume of steam at a preselected pressure, necessary to open the valve, is held back within the turbine stages, crossovers, and so forth. This retained steam is thus prevented from adding energy to increase the speed of the turbine rotor. During turbine startup, the valve is operated in its pressure relief position to permit preheating of the higher pressure sections of the turbine, avoiding long and costly startup procedures.
In combination with a steam turbine in which steam exhausted from a higher pressure turbine section is passed through an interconnecting steam conduit to a lower pressure section, a system for controlling overspeed in the turbine following a sudden loss in load, comprising:
In combination with a steam turbine in which steam exhausted from a higher pressure section is passed through an interconnecting steam conduit to a lower pressure section, apparatus for controlling overspeed in the turbine following a sudden loss in load while maintaining a preselected amount of steam pressure within said higher pressure section, such apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.